5 Ways to Make Massage More Affordable

I know that I am expensive. I also know that I'm worth it. I've spent almost 20 years perfecting my craft. I'm constantly asked questions like; "How are you able to keep doing this after so many years?" and "Don't your hands and wrists hurt?" 

I am able to keep working because I take care of my body by not massaging more than 20 hours a week (usually only around 15), and taking good care of my arms, wrists and hands. They still hurt but I can keep working. 

Ahhhh, and as an FYI, those amazing Groupon and Living Social deals are actually illegal for massage therapists. Healthcare professionals are not allowed to give a percentage to another entity in return for business. It's considered a "spiff."

Now that we've covered the 'why' of massage being so expensive... Here are 5 ways to make it more affordable for you.

1. Use your Health Savings Account. Yes, it really does cover massage and you aren't paying taxes on the money that will make you healthier.
2. Check your health insurance plan. Many plans cover massage especially in states that require licensure. Be aware, you will need a prescription from a healthcare professional and it must be medically necessary. If a massage therapist is covered by your insurance, they will most likely have to be listed in the preferred provider section on the company's web site.
3. Buy a package. At Massage Therapy Olympia I offer several packages with discounts for prepaying sessions. These sessions never expire so, you can use them over several months of years.
4. Barter. The bartering system is wonderful and alive and well. You don't know until you ask. I stink at gardening and have thought more than once about putting up a sign offering to work for fresh organic vegetables. 
5. Ask for gift certificates. Massage makes a perfect gift for anyone. Why not put it on your wish list?

Give some of these ideas a try and start on the path to being pain free and relaxed.

5 Reasons Massage Will Work For You

I hate to say it but, "Welcome to the pop-a-pill culture!"

Between long days at the office, taxiing the kids, housework, the gym, and being a weekend warrior there isn't much time left for you. Your shoulders ache, your low back is on fire and you can't sleep. So, you make an appointment to see your Doctor hoping for the magic bullet to get you through the day. You sit in the waiting room for half an hour. The chairs are horrible. Finally, the nurse calls you and you move to the treatment room where you sit for another half hour at the end of that uncomfortable table. Not sure if you should lie down or try to remain upright. Finally, the doctor comes in, talks to you for 5 minutes and writes you a prescription for muscle relaxers and Vicodin. Whoot! You are on your way but at what cost?

I'm not saying that muscle relaxers and pain relievers don't have their place. They absolutely do. What I'm saying is that you just spent over an hour at your PCP's office getting drugs that are potentially addictive, cause dehydration and make you drowsy but you have only treated the symptoms and not accessed the cause. Drugs should be looked at as a temporary fix to get you over the acute phase.

In the hour that you spent getting pills, you could have been cradled in warm sheets, listened to relaxing music and drifted into a state of bliss. You could have relaxed for an hour in comfort at Massage Therapy Olympia. You could have started fixing the problem. Here are 5 reasons that massage will work for you.

1. Pain Relief - Massage relieves pain. It's that simple. It does so by helping to block the pain receptors in the nervous system. Studies by the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, the Touch Institute of Miami, the Mayo Clinic and many more have all recognized that massage significantly reduces pain.
2. Relaxation - Our busy lives don't lend much time for R&R. Stress adds to muscle tension. You can see this for yourself by being conscious. Next time life gets to you, go to the nearest mirror and look at how your shoulders just became a set of matching earrings. Massage relaxes the muscles but it also works on the entire nervous system, reducing tension and restoring a sense of calm. It has also been proven to lower blood pressure.
3. Improves Sleep - It is a natural sleep aid. Receiving bodywork increases sleep and disrupts the pain sleep cycle. In recent studies, people receiving back massage not only slept more deeply but slept longer.
4. Increased Circulation - By pushing on the surface of the body, the deeper layers of muscles, veins and arteries are affected moving the blood through the tissue. When the blood delivers fresh oxygen and nutrients to the tissue, the tissue is better able to heal itself.
5. Decrease Edema and Swelling - By stimulating the lymphatic system, fluids causing inflammation and swelling are carried back to the lymph nodes. 

In summation, what are you waiting for? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. And... you are worth it!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9656043
http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/
http://www.mayoclinic.org